Flowering Allotment

It's surprising how many flowers are at the allotment. When I visit I try to spend the first 10 minutes or so having a cup of tea, having a little wander and taking a few photos before the hard work of digging and weeding begins. Although there are always a few people around it is such a peaceful time especially if I have been up early and rushing around beforehand. 

 The foxgloves I started from seed last year have started to flower.

 This variety is called 'Pam's Choice' and is white with a pretty dark crimson throat.

Some of my other Pinks are also now flowering and add a lovely splash of colour to the plot.

 On my wanders I found pretty blue Cornflowers,

 yellow and deep orange Californian Poppies and Marigolds,

 a double Poppy (I think it's called a Paeony Double Poppy),

 Blackberry blossom,

 Red Hot Pokers and single Poppies 

 

and this pretty rose bush on the plot next to me.

It's smothered in buds and flowered for months last year.

 This week I planted more tomato plants, potatoes (a bit late) and my beetroot seedlings.

 In between the beetroot and courgettes I planted lettuce seedlings. 

Unfortunately, my first lettuce seedlings at home got eaten by slugs and snails. They've also eaten a whole row of Coriander plants which I grew from seed and totally stripped the leaves off one of my Dahlia plants last night so I was not very happy!

  I have used beer traps at home (as I don't like using slug pellets) but they don't seem to have been very successful this year. I've resorted instead to collecting them early in the morning and putting them in a bucket of salty water! My Dad suggested I put slug pellets under a plate slightly lifted on one side so the birds don't eat the dead slugs.

 If anyone has any useful tips I'd be glad to hear of them as I would like to plant my Dahlias out at the weekend and for them to still be there the following morning!